College Decision Day for the Class of 2025 is nationally celebrated by all those graduating from high school. It is usually celebrated on May 1st every year and it is the day where students confirm where they will be attending college the following year. Not all schools release their admissions on the same day, and there are specific times admissions are released, but May 1st is recognized as Decision Day nationwide.
Before diving into the statistics of this year’s admission cycle, first let’s examine the application process:
Things to Know For Applying in 2026
Colleges across the country are changing their reputations. Many of the elite colleges wanted to prioritize accepting well-rounded students, yet it appears what they are searching for are well-rounded students that still are focused and driven academically. Universities are trying to maintain their distinct academic reputation, while also getting students to understand the value of interdisciplinarity. Cornell and MIT both said that they wanted students who are looking to make unexpected connections between their interests making them stand out in today’s landscape. Colleges are looking for thinkers who are looking to solve problems and overcome challenges with interests in multiple different fields.
Test scores are starting to make their way back into application processes. Although there are still many test optional schools out there, a large number of applicants in the Class of 2029 submitted their test scores. 74% of students who applied to Boston College submitted their test scores as did 65% of students applying to Tufts University. Many people think that submitting test scores may hurt them, but in recent studies they have helped students. Admission offices have found that when applicants submit test scores, it is easier to identify high achieving applicants who deserve to be at this institution. If applicants choose not to send in their test scores, applicants should ensure that the rest of their application, including course load and teacher recommendations, demonstrates that they deserve to be at this institution.
Early admissions pathways have become a desirable option for applicants, especially for top schools. This year, early acceptance rates were often double or triple those of regular decisions. It is crucial for applicants to evaluate whether early application makes sense for them or whether regular decision is better suited for them. Applying early takes a lot of preparation that is all on the applicant. Applicants should have a well researched school list, strong grades, and a captivating application that is ready by all the fall deadlines. Preparation can improve your chances of being admitted.
It can seem like a daunting task, but there is no one path to a successful future, and Decision Day highlights the many possibilities the class of 2029 has in front of them.
Now, a look into this year’s statistics:
Ivy League
This year the overall acceptance rate of many of the Ivy League universities grew as the number of applicants declined. This year the number of applicants declined, while in past years, it was significantly higher. Yale University accepted 4.59% of applicants for the Class of 2029 which was a significant increase from its record low acceptance of 3.7% for the Class of 2028. Columbia University admitted 4.29% of applicants for the Class of 2029 which was larger than its admission rate for the Class of 2028, having a rate of 3.86%. Brown University accepted 5.65% of students that applied for Class of 2029 as the Class of 2028 only had a 5.4% acceptance rate. Dartmouth College announced that they had an admission rate of 6% for the Class of 2029 which was higher than their record low of 5.3% for the Class of 2028. Cornell University stated that they had a 13.3% increase in acceptance this year compared to last year. Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard University all did not disclose their acceptance information for the Class of 2029.
Other University Statistics
Alongside the Ivy League schools, many other schools were seeing similar trends in their acceptance data. University of Southern California had an acceptance rate of around 10% for the Class of 2029 which was an increase from last year’s rate at a record low of 9.2%. Massachusetts Institute of Technology accepted about 4.52% of students for the Class of 2028 yet accepted 4.55% of students for the Class of 2029. In contrast, Amherst College received a record high number of applicants, yet their acceptance rate fell to 7% for this year when it was 9% last year.
Many universities saw an increase in applicant numbers across the country. Rice University saw a 13% increase in applicants, having approximately 37,000 applicants. New York University had a record breaking year, receiving over 120,000 applications. Notre Dame also had a record breaking number of applicants, specifically for REA and RD.